reads someone the riot act

A form of read someone the riot act — To scold or berate somebody; to reprimand.

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Meanings

verb
  1. indicativepresentsingularthird personthird-person singular simple present indicative of read someone the riot act
Cite this entry
APA

reads someone the riot act. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/reads%20someone%20the%20riot%20act

MLA

“reads someone the riot act.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/reads%20someone%20the%20riot%20act. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “reads someone the riot act,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/reads%20someone%20the%20riot%20act.

Source: reads someone the riot act on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.